Shock-absorber.



` W. C. CORNWELL.

SHOCK ABSORBBR. APPLICATION FILED 11111.16, 1913.

1,112,771. Patented 001.11914.

JA? WIT/1155555 4 INI/ENTOR www entran sain-'rus PATENT marion WILLIAM c. CQRNWELL, or CINCINNATI, oHio.

sHoGK-AB'SQRBEB.

To allwwlmm t may concern Be it known that I, WinniAM C. CORN- wrLL, a citizen of the United States, `residing at Cincinnati, in the'county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Shockbsorbers, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to shock absorbers.

Under ordinary riding conditions, automobile supporting springs are supposed to withstand all undue downward tendency sorber embodying such characteristics that the supporting,r springs of the vehicle may be compressed under their normal resiliency and on the rebound or recoil frictioi'lally resisted to prevent jolting or undue vibration incident to the recoil of the springs;

Another object is to provide a shock absorber operable to act quickly and effectively upon the vehicle striking; an obstructionor uneven surface in the roadway and adapted to remain idle or inactive when the vehicle is riding over even roads or pavements.

Another object resides in the provision of shock absorber wherein'there cannot be such excesss friction as to cause the cnr to ride hard and wherein there is not such tric# tion interposed between the springs and the body as will-resist the downward deflection oi the springs to the extent of transmitting sition on the vehicle and without the neces- .Specification o f Letters .Patent- Applicaton led January 16, 1913. Serial N o. 742,374.

Another object is to providea shock more fully described, illustrated in the ac-` companying` drawings, and particularly Patented Oct. tl, Mil

pointed out in the ap endedjclaims, it bei ing understood that cianges may be made in the form, proportion, size and minor details Without departing from the spirit or sacricing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of the invention in one of its applications to a motor car or other 'vehicle'. Fig. Qis a detailed view of the intermediate trietion disk and its arm. Fig 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the absorber detached from it mount-ings. Fig. 4 is'a top plan view partly in horizontal section. 1

.Referring now more vI aarticularly to the accompanylng drawings, the reference character 5 indicates a portion of an automobile or other vehicle trarne, and 6 indicates a portion of one of the vehicle frame supporting springs.

The characters 7 and ts' indicate ratchet disks, and 9 designates an intermediate disk. Interposed between the intermediate and ratchetdisks and preferably situated in recesses l() formed in the inner faces of the ratchet disks are wood or other fibrous `friction disks` 11 and 12., The ratchet disks 7 and 8 have trunnions 18 and 14 projecting from their outer faces' and all of the disks have central aiining a I ertures by which they are all loosely journa ed on an axis or bolt l5. The intermediate disk 9 hasan arm 16 rigid therewith and projecting therefrom and whose outer end is provided with an aperture 17 so that it may be Areadilysecured rotatively tothe clip 18 on the spring 6.

As has been. stated, the intermediate disk 9 has connection with the spring/6 with all of the disks mounted upon a common axis.

The outer or ratchet disks 7 and 8 have connection with ad portion of the frame 5 by' means citan upper arm A. 'In this particular .embodiment of my invention the upper arm A preferably consists of spaced inembers 19 and 20 whose outer ends are preferably brought together and provided with an aperture 21 to rotatably receive a bolt 22 secured in the bracket 23 depending rornih? part 5 of the frame of the vehicle. The inner ends of these members 19 and 20 of the upper arm A are preferably journaled on the trunnions 13 and 14 of the respective ratchet disks 7 and 8and thereby in eli'ect journaled on the common axis 15. rlhe bolt 15 is preferably provided with a head 24: at

one end with its opposite end preferably screw threaded to receive a nut movable thereon toward andaway from the head 24K. Disposed on the bolt 15 bet-Ween the h'ead2i and the nut-25 and against the outer faces of the members 19 and 20 and also against the trunnions 13 and 14 of the ratchet disks 7 and 8, are washers 26 and 27. Each washer 2(5*27 ispreferably provided with an annular groove 28 and each ratchet disk 7 and 8 is provided with an annular groove 29 in which grooves I preferably dispose suitable packing for the purpose of excluding sand, dirt, or other foreign matter from between these parts and lfrom the axis 15. By the manipulation of the nut 25 en the bolt 15 1 toward and away from the head 24 of the bolt, the friction between the disks may be varied and, if desired, a cotter pin or other suitable fastenin element 30 may beeinployed to hold t e nut on the bolt against accidental displacement or loosening. if desired and preferably, a spring or other yieldable element 31 may be interposed between the nut 25 andthe, washer 27 so tliat the disks may be yieldingly held frictionally -to-' gethein When the vehicle strikes an obstruction or deep rut in the roadway the supporting springs andthe frame move toward each other, compressing the springs. rEhe rebound or recoil of the springs gives greater jar or jolt to the vehicle and its occupants than the initial compression of the springs. v1 therefore mount all of the disks loosely on a common axis 15 .so that when the arms A and 16 approach each other there is little or no friction between the disks and the springs 6 retain their natural resiliency and are thereby not restrained by the absorber. As the rebound or recoil gives the greater jolt l provide lneans to cooperate with the ratchet disks 7 and S so that the arm A. .forces the ratchet disks to rotatelon their axis against frictional resistance of the intermediate disk 9 and the interposed brous disks 10 and 11. One means for this purpose resides in a pawl 32 swingingly mounted on a pivot 33 secured to the spaced members 19 and 20 of the upper arm A and which, in the particular embodiment of invention illustrated, is preferably of a width substantially equal to the space between the members 19 and 2O so that its outer end may engage the teeth of both ratchet disks 7 and 8. rFhis pawl 32 is prefera-bly spring pressed so that it may be niaintained normally in operative engagement with the ratchet disks so as to act quickly on' the rebound of the vehicle s rings. -For this purpose any suitable chara ter of spring or other suitable element may be employed. As shown, a spring 34 is engaged at its ends `with the members 19 and 20 of the upper arm A with its bight portion 34 extending over the pawl and to give this spring tenu sion, its .legs 34a may be directed beneath the nuts 35 on the ends of the aforesaid pivot rilliis type of spring, however, is iininateriai so long as the pawl is held normally yield able in engagement with the ratchet disks.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3 the absorber parts are so assembled that the pawl has play between the teeth of the ratchet disks so that when the vehicle is runningover coinu paratively even 'roads or pavements, the shock absorbers remain inactive, in'that crdinary ruiming does not depress the springs below their normal position and, under such conditions, the springs themselves possess the requisite resiliencyto insure smooth riding of the vehicle and not requiring the dition of a restraining element. Yet, in the event of excessive vibration or jolt, the shock absorbers immediately become active and effectively resist the rebound and restrain the upward movement of the frame to pre-- vent violent upward movement of the body of the vehicle to the discomfort and annoy ance of theoccupants of the vehicle. is brought about because, while ruiming ever comparatively even roads the engaging end of the pawl 32 has play between the teeth as indicated in dotted lines inlig. 3 and im@ mediateiy upon the vehicle coming in tact with a rough surface in the road, the pawl 32 engages the corresponding teeth the ratchet disks at the first depression of the springs, and forces the latter to rotate on. 1

the recoil of the springs against the fric-- tional resistance ofthe disks interposed between them, thereby taking up r,ind resisting rlihe frictional resistance necessary to overcome the rebound of springs varies. gage the frictional resistance between the disks, the present shock absorber is so constructed that this may be determined with@ out removing the absorber from the vehicie land without complicating-the device with indicating devices, which, at best, are accurate, especially after continued use. the present instance, the amount of resisL ance between` the disks may beaecurateiy ascertained Without the permanent connection of an indicating devicefand without re moving the shock absorber from its opera tiv position and While the shock absorber isiinactive. One way in which the amount i of resisting or restraining power of the. shock absorber may be ascertained is by the application to the ratchet wheels of a spanner wrench "or other suitable device (net shown) for the purpose of rotating the iff-'i ward movement thereof notwithstanding the fact that the arms A and 16 approach each other freely because, the movement above normal Abeing restrained, it equalized the movement below normal. I thereby automatically control undue downward movement ofthe springs by controlling the degree of rebound or recoil of the springs.

It is apparent from the foregoing and from the accompanying drawings that the present inventionis comparatively simple and inerqiensiveot` manufacture. The shock absorbers maybe connected up in various ways with automobiles and as many may be employed as is necessary.

l/Vhat is claimed is:

1. A shock absorber for vehicles comprising a plurality of ratchet disks, other disks interposed between the ratchet disks, a com` mon axis for all of the disks, an arm connected to one of the interposed disks, an arm including side members journaled on said axis adjacent the ratchet disks, and a pawl carried by the spaced members of said second-mentioned arm for engagement with both of said ratchet disks to rotate both ratchet 'disks against the frictional resistance ot the interposed disks when the second arm is spread away from the first-mentioned arm.

2. A shock absorber for vehicles comprising a plurality of disks including a plurality of ratchet disks, one of the disks having an arm projecting therefrom, a common axis for all the disks, a second arm jonrnaled on said axis and movable toward and away from the first-mentioned arm, and

ya spring pressed pawl carried by the second mentioned arm for enragement with said Iratchet disks to rotate the latter against the trictional resistance ot the other disks when said arms are spread apart.

' v 3. A shock absorber for vehicles comprising a plurality ot' disks including a pair of ratchet disks, a common axis for thedisks on which they are loosely journaled, an arm connected to one of the disks, an arm rotatably mounted adjacent one of the disks, a pawl carried by one of the arms to engage both of saidl ratchet disks to effect a rotation of the ratchet disk against vtrictional resistance ofi the other disks, and a compressible yieldable element mounted on the axis to vary the 'frictional resistance between the disks. l

4. A shock absorber for vehicles comprising ratchet disks each having a depression on its inner side, fibrous disks mounted ir. the depressions of the ratchet disks, a metallic disk' interposed between the iibrous disks and.provided with a connecting arm, an axis common to all of said disks and on which all of the disks are journaled, the.

ratchet disks having` outwardll directed trunnions, an arm including spaced members journaled on the trunnions of the ratchet disks, and a pawl carried by the second-mentioned arm for engagement with the ratchet disks to effect rotation of the ratchet disks. against trictional resistance of the other disks when said arms are spread apart.

A shock absorbeir ior vehicles comprising ratchet disks each having a depression on its linner side, lfibrous disks mounted in the depressions of the ratchet disks, a metallic disk interposed between the iibrous disks and provided with a connecting arm, an axis common to all of said disks and on which all of the disks are journaled, the ratchet disks having outwardly directed trunnions, an arm including spaced members journaled on the trunnions of the ratchet disks, a pawl carried by the second-mentioned arm for engagement with the ratchet disks to ciiiect rotation of the ratchet disks against frictional resistance of the other disks when said arms are spread apart, and means' for yieldably varying the frictional resistance between the disks.

6. A shock absorber for vehicles comprising ratchet disks each havinga depression on its inner side, fibrous disks mounted in the depressions of the ratchetl disks, a. metallic disk interposed between the fibrous disks and provided with a connecting arm,

an axis common to all ot said disks and on which all of the disks are journaled, the ratchet -disks having outwardly directed trunnions, an arm including spaced' members journaled on the trnnnions of the ratchet disks, a pawl carried by the second mentioned arm for engagement with the ratchet disks to effect rotation of the ratchet disks against frictional resistance of the other disks when said arms are spread apart, each of the members of the second arm having an annular groove surrounding the trunnion of the corresponding ratchet disk, and packing material in said groove.

7. A shock absorber 'for vehicles comprising ratchet disks each having a depression on its inner side, fibrous disks mounted in the depressions of the ratchet disks, a metallic disk interposedbetween the {ibrous l packing material in said groove, a sp1" .said axis and a nut operable on ehe ratchet disks between which disks and provided with a connecting arm, an axis common to all of said disks and on which all of the disks are gournaled, 'die ratchet .disks having outwardly directed compress the spring and 'theifeby frictional resistance between the dis s.

G. A shock absorber for vehicles cempising a plurality of disks 'inciudingn a paix of the remaining disks ai'e interposed, one of Jhe inteiposed disks having an ai'in projecting iheeiioifn a common axis for all ci the disks an afm including,` spaced members journaled cent the outer faces of the reiches. disks, and.'

a sp1-ing operated pawl swinginglyginonnted between the spaced members n the second.

mentioned arm for engagement with seth ei L when aisne ae spread zipai l 9. A shock ahsoibei' 'for veiiiciescenipi-sing a plui'aliiy of disks including a paie @if ratche disks {m-Ween Which-ille emaining disks ae ineinosed, one of the imei'posef disks having an afin pico ein ineeiionis common axis foi alii @if t i' en aimli disks, @lending sgaced ineinhes gouimaled the @einer faces of ne racie disks? and spring operated. naval swingingly inem-eed between *die of nienioned arm i-he mche disais to e'lectroi-whim@ si been of the atchei'; disks mains* 'iicional i'esisaA ance of the inteieesee. disks when said. arms i' pai-fi normally iaehe:

aie spiead apa c., said Y playbe'ween me teeth of beh oi' getheia predeernined disance.

:in ,testimony wheee i, 

